Mr Robin Squire: I beg to move, That this House, having regard to the importance of adult education in providing opportunities for re-entry into the education system, urges local authorities to make appropriate provision in planning the allocation of resources. Anyone who is fortunate enough to top the private Members' ballot is well aware of his good fortune, and he is also aware of the muttered threats...
Mr Robin Squire: I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for supporting what I am saying. The problem—I suspect that this will come up during the debate—is that whatever we say in this Chamber, and whatever Front Bench spokesmen say, the responsibility still lies with the local authorities. But I do not believe that it is fair to blame them totally, because ultimately they must have the ammunition, the money...
Mr Robin Squire: I respect the hon. Member, who is one of the Open University graduates. He therefore speaks with a particular knowledge of the subject. I shall try not to follow him down that course, which introduces—albeit unwittingly—elements of a party political nature, which I am strongly endeavouring to avoid. When we are considering the public image, the other problem is the feeling that adult...
Mr Robin Squire: I was not referring merely to that difference. The essential difference in education is that most men have access to training, either through their job or, if they are made redundant, through one of the arms of Government or local government, the MSC, and so on. Most women are still working part time, or they are at home as housewives and mothers. Those options are not open to them. If they...
Mr Robin Squire: Will my right hon. Friend use the accession of Greece, combined with our Presidency later in the year, to take firm steps to resolve the multi-language problem, there now being seven languages, and to institute action to move to two languages, namely, French and English? Will he use that, in turn, as a possible way to influence the French to one siting of the Parliament as well?
Mr Robin Squire: Will my right hon. and learned Friend recognise that the totally speculative and imaginative article in The Observer last Sunday was read with a lot of pleasure by many of us—particularly the expectation that interest rates are to be cut by 3 per cent.—and that the pleasure will be even greater if the rate can be brought down even sooner?
Mr Robin Squire: In terms of the original question, is my hon. Friend aware that in my local offices the operation is running smoothly and that the expected problems have not materialised?
Mr Robin Squire: Does my hon. Friend accept that while the well-documented aberrations of the Opposition, some of which he has just given us, are well-known and accepted on this side of the House—indeed, they ignore the national surplus in housing—there is a particular problem in London, which I earnestly commend to him and ask whether he recognises that the market alone is probably unable to cope with it.
Mr Robin Squire: I begin by congratulating my hon. Friend the Member for New Forest (Mr. McNair-Wilson) on the lucid and calm way in which he presented the Bill, which made it easy to understand. It may make it more strange to those listening to our proceedings if I now seek to suggest that at least one aspect of the Bill represents perhaps the most contentious and controversial constituency issue that I hope...
Mr Robin Squire: asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made in negotiating the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Economic Community.
Mr Robin Squire: In the light of recent events, will my right hon. Friend confirm the increased importance of enabling these two democracies to gain accession at the earliest opportunity and to be strengthened by that membership? Will he also undertake to discuss with his ministerial equivalents in the rest of the EEC possible interim assistance, either financial or political, that may have the effect of...
Mr Robin Squire: I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his statement. Will he confirm, I suspect for the umpteenth time, that it would make no sense at all for a minority of the housing previously run by the GLC to remain in its ownership when the vast majority of London boroughs have already accepted their share? Secondly, and more important from the point of view of actual and would-be tenants in the areas...
Mr Robin Squire: Does my right hon. Friend recognise that several local authorities are concerned about the way in which the penalties have been based on the 1978–79 out-turn, which particularly penalises Conservative-controlled authorities that have complied with successive Government guidelines? Although it is too late for the current year, will my right hon. Friend consider whether some change in the...
Mr Robin Squire: Will my hon. Friend ensure that the resources of his Department are brought to bear on the purchasing policy of other Departments? Many Departments, including the Ministry of Defence, as I know from constituency experience, often buy abroad when eqivalent and appropriate materials are available in this country. They do us a disservice and we should stamp on them.
Mr Robin Squire: Plumbing has its origin in antiquity as an honourable and respected craft. The responsibility of the plumber to the public was recognised as early at 1365, when the Worshipful Company of Plumbers was granted ordinances stipulating that a plumber should submit himself to examination so that the trade might not be scandalised or the commonality damaged or deceived by folk who do not know their...
Mr Robin Squire: Page 3.
Mr Robin Squire: Does my hon. Friend agree that there have been many instances where voluntary control of an industry or profession has proved inadequate and the Government of the day have stepped in to provide the necessary control?
Mr Robin Squire: The right hon. Gentleman referred to the motive behind the sale of council houses. Will he comment on the Labour Party's motive when Herbert Morrison caused massive council estates to be built throughout London?
Mr Robin Squire: Nevertheless, will my hon. and learned Friend welcome evidence from the Opposition of some commitment to better roads, which is sometimes overlain with other considerations? Will he also reaffirm that Greater London perhaps faces the greatest road system problem? Will he also reaffirm his commitment riot just to the M25 but to improvement of roads throughout London generally?
Mr Robin Squire: When my hon. and learned Friend, who I know has considered the matter at great length, considers the possible bypassing of Rainham village by the A13, will he take into account the exhaustive, as he says—and no doubt exhausting—statistics available to him and ensure that he comes to the right conclusion?
